The bulb didn't break, just the outer glass with the lead shot. I spooned out as much of the crud as I could see. I'm considering throwing this batch into the compost bin and starting again. I'll get a digital thermo too.

yeah they're not lead, but next time you buy a thermometer don't buy a glass one. They break in your beer and then you have broken glass in your beer. I'd throw away my glass hydrometer to if refractometers read SG with alcohol correctly.

I figured he had a good to excellent chance that his gain bed, MLT screen, would catch the glass. If he does get a piece into primary, its buried at the bottom of the trub and I would think he has a minute chance of picking it up when racking. I would go into a secondary just to better you odds. But like Virtuous said it may not be worth it.

You have a better idea of how much glass could be in there. Did it just crack into a few pieces or shatter like tempered glass? If its just a few pieces put them together and see how much glass is missing.

I figured he had a good to excellent chance that his gain bed, MLT screen, would catch the glass. If he does get a piece into primary, its buried at the bottom of the trub and I would think he has a minute chance of picking it up when racking. I would go into a secondary just to better you odds. But like Virtuous said it may not be worth it.

If it was me, and I had a 20 foot grain bed it would find its way into my beer. Thats just my kind of luck